Pages

The El Rey Club, Searchlight, NV

Many eBay vendors hoping to find info on value on El Rey Casino items are finding this blog. I thought it would be a good time to post a list of what I currently own and what I'm looking for. I'll do this in two posts, starting with what I already have (but could always use more).

If you eBay folks would like to know what I paid for these items you can contact me. While you're at it, you can tell me what you're selling and ask if I'd be interested in purchasing from you directly. I know it is not as exciting as starting a bidding war, but it certainly would be much nicer.

#3:El Rey Coaster.
I actually have a couple of these. I bought a lot of 4 of them not too long ago andgave each of my siblings one of them so they could share in the El Rey fun.

#4: El Rey Mailer/Brochure
This one is very cool indeed! It folds up for easy mailing and unfolds to reveal some great photos and descriptions. This is one of two that were available on eBay some time back. I got outbid on the other one. I wish the seller would have called me first!

#5:El Rey Post Card #1.
This is one of three post cards I own
(Two are of the same image. One mailed, one not.)
This seems to be the rarer of the two cards I've found thus far.

#6:El Rey Post Card #2.
This is the one I have two of. The photo is fairly common among the few websites out there with El Rey info and I believe this to be a more common card, even though it may actually be an older card.

#7 & #8:El Rey Poker Chips (Later issue).
These are fairly common. They are probably from after the 1962 fire and may be from a time when Willie was less involved with the club I bought two more of these and donated them to the Searchlight Museum. Why?
Because I'm a nice guy and I'm hopeful others reading this will be equally as nice to me one day. :)

#9: El Rey $25.00 Chip
I just got this one recently. This one is supposed to be the "thrid issue" of the chip, but I don't care. I'll happily purchase others of earlier issue if I can afford it.

#10: "Tonight for Sure"Not technically something from the El Rey, but the casino is prominently featured in the film. Since it is something of a harder to find item I included it here. You can get your own copy of the film at Something Weird Video.#11: El Rey Matchbook.Gold foil (Not that you could tll by the scan). This is one of two matchbooks I'm aware of. There may be more. All I know is that I got my heart broken losing an auction for the other one and I can't quite get over it.

#12: El Rey Matchbook w/Willie Martello's Image

Yeah, baby! I not only managed to get a hold of one of these beauties, I have one with all the matches inside, and some winning hands of poker printed on the matches. For the complete story of just how I got this fantastic matchbook click HERE.

#13: $1.00 Poker Chip in DAMN EXCELLENT CONDITION!

Jerry Schafer himself gave this to me personally. I'm more than honored. The whole story about this chip can be found HERE.

#14: El Rey Dice in EXCELLENT CONDITION!

An eBay purchase gone right & one AMAZING bit of generosity! I know there are several other styles to collect, but I'm happy as a clam to have these. So far as I can tell I have seven different styles and know of at least 11 in total, maybe more.

The bottom set has matching serial numbers. Details on the first pair of dice can be found HERE. Details on the other two sets can be found HERE.

TOO COOL! More from the amazing generosity of Ed Darling. I can't thank him enough! Read all about these beauties HERE.

And the dice keep on rolling...

#16: Midwest Game Supply "Certified Perfects" El Rey Dice in Original PackagingHOLY CRAPS! These are just beautiful and they have the date hot-stamped on the box from when they were packaged (April 27, 1965).

These are smaller than all the other styles of dice.

This design is very cool as well. Don't believe me...

A close-up of the above dice.

Info about these dice (AND THE DICE I HAVE AVAILABLE FOR TRADE) can be found HERE.

#17: EL Rey Dice, Script Logo, Non-Matching Serial Numbers

This is the only set I've ever seen of these. VERY cool, even if they're not "perfect" by collector's standards. I'm not selling them anyway so it doesn't matter.

These are the same design as the above pictured C&J dice with the embossed serial numbers. However, these are a smaller size, the same size as the "Certified Perfects" above. I am fairly sure these were made by C&J. If anyone has info about them, let me know. Yet another style that "didn't exist" until I got my hands on them!

#19: Single El Rey Club Die (Circa early 1950's???)

Not the prettiest of my collection, but certainly one of the most rare !

#20: TWO Original 8x10 glossy promotional Photos from "Tonight for Sure"

Currently I own two of these and I may be able to get my hands on more. I am looking into their history as they may not be actually form the El Rey Era. Not sure yet. Also, these may available in different colors. OOH! The extras I accumulate over the years COULD be available for trade and MAYBE for purchase. Contact me if interested.

#24 El Rey "City Ledger Card" (Line of Credit), #336, 1956-1957

This item is believed to have come from the home of Mary Patterson. There is writing on the front and back detailing a gambling story (front), a rather colorful story about a guest at the El Rey, and possibly the combination to the safe at the El Rey (back, not pictured). The bearer of this card (if properly issued and signed) was allowed a line of credit at the El Rey Club.

#25 1961 W2 Slip for M.A. Patterson, Employee of the El Rey

Generally the collectibles people find have more to do with the items you've already seen in this post. Ashtrays, gaming chips, and the like. Finding something tangible from a person who worked there is special for me. I've been looking into the history of the person who worked there and when I have something to share I certainly will do so.

#26 El Rey Resort Hotel $4.00 Gaming Voucher #1777

So far as I know, prior to my finding these, they simply "didn't exist anymore". I've not met anyone with any to share or sell and I certainly never saw one until I managed to get my hands on SEVERAL of them. These are printed on check paper and were used as "comps" back in the day (Willie was ahead of the game I tell ya!) I believe these were also handed out to passengers on the airplane while heading to the El Rey. These will likely be used as special incentives to buy my upcoming book. Meaning, a special edition will feature my signature as well as an El Rey artifact. However I can be persuaded to trade or sell some of them, if a collector would like to have one.

This is just another "impossible" thing to find. I can't believe I have this one in my collection. Far too cool!

#28 & #29: El Rey Advertising ChipsThese had no real cash value (accept for collectors) and were used as Willie Martello's business card for some time. I FINALLY got my hands on not one, but TWO of these through an eBay sale. I even know where to find one additional one, but currently it is not for sale. Why do I have TWO of them? Well, one is the Willie Martello chip and the other is the even more rare W.M. Sawyer chip. Looking into who Sawyer was and what capacity he worked for the El Rey.

Amazingly, with all the old Nevada memorabilia collectors, with all the casino collectors, with all the El Rey hounds out there, NOBODY bid on this fabulous item on eBay and I won it for a GREAT price. I'll get a full scan up here one day soon.

The names alone are worth some cash, if not historical value. Sixteen names appear on this great stationery and I intend on learning about all of them.

Because of this I did learn that M.C. Patterson was NOT a lady who worked at the El Rey, but rather a man who worked for Willie and ran his Texaco station in town. This is a cool item and I have TWO of them (One available for trade).

#31: Metal El Rey Ashtray (RARE!)

Details on how this very rare gem came into my hands can be found HERE.

32: $5.00 Navy Blue El Rey Poker Chip (Large Crown Mold)
One of the "white whales" is now in my collection! It is estimated that there are fewer than 15 of these left in existence. I am very happy to have this one, even if I paid...some money for it.

This one came from 1946, the year the casino opened. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that other chips will surface from Willie's family members as there are not many other types of casino chips known to be around eny more. Rest assured, if it exists somewhere I WILL find one.

#33: $5.00 El Rey Poker Chip w/Willie's Picture (Drilled)

Bought this one at an auction. Didn't spend as little as I wanted, but didn't spend as much as I thought I would. So I'm very happy. This was the second one I picked up in the same day. YES!

#34 & #35: El Rey Beer Cans

The beer that inspired the names for the El Rey Clubs in California and Nevada! Not the greatest or most pristine examples of either can, but that's no matter to me. I'm happy to have them in the collection.

Sure with this beer were around today. I'd love to find out why the Martello's liked it so much.

#36: El Rey Barboot Table???

This one is actually a bit of a mystery, but I think I've figured it out. Barboot (aka Barbooth, Barbudi, Barbut, Barbotte, Bar'Boot, and Even-Up Craps) is an even money game pitting player against player (two players at a time). When played in a casino, the house generally takes a percentage of the losing players wager.

While it has origins in Greece and the Middle East, a little homework online shows that this game was heavily favored by Italians. Illegal Barboot rings are cited among many mobster families (including Capone) and could be found in the back rooms of taverns & cigar shops. It was also played for fun among Italian families.

I'm still looking for some confirmation that Willie's large family may have played this game, it is very possible that it could have been played or offered at the El Rey. It is a licensed game in Nevada, though you'll rarely find it anywhere.

The unreal, but TRUE story of the little casino that changed Las Vegas FOREVER!

The THIRTEEN-TIME award-winning book, by Andy Martello is out NOW! The King of Casinos: Willie Martello and the El Rey Club has been sold in six different countries and has earned 13 awards, including an International Book Award, a USA Best Books award, a Readers' Favorite award, and it was named BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club.

To commemorate Nevada's 150th birthday, NewsReview.com named the book one of the essential 150 Things for 150 Years, a list of the best Nevada movies, songs, television shows, and books.

Check back for information about a major motion picture based upon this incredible book.

Andy continues to collect artifacts and stories from the El Rey Club. If you have any information to share or items for his collection, contact Andy Martello today!

About Me

Call 702-465-5604 or Visit www.andymartello.com.
Andy Martello is celebrating his 25th year as America's premier corporate entertainer. Andy has been seen on NBC's "Last Comic Standing", WGN's "The Bozo Show" and appeared in national television commercials. He has even performed for President George Bush (the original, NOT the sequel!)